I arrived in Vancouver to a warm welcome and southern hospitality. Southern Canada that is. The next morning I did laundry and various chores and then we met up at the stables to watch Pierre and Julie's daughter Sophie riding on Jackson. She was the youngest girl there and was riding the biggest horse with ease and perfection. Pierre took off work to join us.

 After a great dinner that featured Halibut and many different vegetables, Pierre and I walked on the waterfront in Steveston and checked out the fishing boats.

 The next morning we packed the car early and left at the crack of dawn to go meet the ferry and head for Vancouver Island in search of salmon. As luck would have it, the salmon run started right as we arrived. I think we got enough stuff packed into the van. Cars loaded but check out the size of that ferry. It must hold over 200 cars on it's multiple decks.

 Our destination was Sayward, a small poor fishing town toward the northeast end of the island. Pierre was a great host and I felt so lucky to have him. He really worked hard to make sure I had a good time but he is so fun to be with I could have had a good time just hanging on the porch with him but we were going to do was so much more fun than that.

 When we got there, a man named Raymond was responsible for having the boat ready but he proved to be a bit of a layabout and a real richard to boot. Pierre and I didn't let that spoil the fun and, trusting in the magic of the journey we left it to work itself out. Well the boat motor wasn't ready to go thanks to the layabout but all worked out because the man that came to help put the boat in the water offered to take us out in his boat and it was an awesome alternative. Kerry was a nice guy and we had a great time hooking into the salmon run.

 Pierre was in his element and having a great time.

This is really fresh Salmon.

 The layabout came on the boat with us but we had a great time nonetheless. He is even crazier than he looks and I tried to stay upwind at all times.

 Dinner was fresh fish and tacos and Pierre provided the cutting board straight off the wood pile.

 The next morning, Kerry was busy and suggested we try fishing from the pier while the tide was coming in. Pierre was doubtful as he had never had much luck there but he was forgetting the magic and we showed up and started hooking into fish right and left. Landing them was an altogether different matter but we caught our dinner and then the tide shifted and it was time to make breakfast, break camp and head for the ferry.

 When we got to the ferry we had to wait and it seemed certain that we wouldn't get on the next ferry and would have to wait another 2 1/2 hours and travel in the dark and arrive home very late but the magic held and we were the last one on the ferry which put us at the back of the ferry with room to spread out and enjoy ourselves. The weather had cleared and it was a beautiful trip back.